This book review was written by Niki Esmaili of Richard Montgomery High School
Debbie Macomber’s Twelve Days of Christmas is a heartwarming and comforting read. Filled with romance, cheer, and goodwill, this book implores you to reconsider the impact that kindness can truly have on a person. If you are someone who enjoys classic romance novels, then this book is definitely for you.
Julia Padden is a young bubbly woman who likes nearly everyone. However, her standoffish neighbor Cain Maddox presents a particular challenge. With a dark past, Cain proves to be reserved and a tough nut to crack, rebuffing her at every encounter they have. In spite of Julia’s generous personality, she vows to try and humanize Cain and warm his heart by killing him with kindness.
Julia’s first few attempts are far from successful. She continues acting cheerful and bubbly every time they come into contact with one another, hoping that he will play along. She collects his newspaper for him every morning, offers to take his dog out, and even makes him cookies, which he refused.
To track her progress, Julia begins a blog called Twelve Days of Christmas, labeling Cain as Ebenezer Scrooge. Her blog becomes an online sensation with over 100,000 reads. During Julia’s twelve-day journey in unraveling the caring man beneath Cain’s Grinch-like persona, she slowly begins to chip away the walls that were built around his heart and realizes that she is beginning to develop feelings for him; she suspects that he is, too.
All of the characters alongside Julia and Cain contribute to the development of the story and to Julia and Cain’s relationship. Bernie Maddox, Cain’s grandfather, proves to be much nicer and sweeter than Cain. Julia meets with him several times at a senior living complex behind Cain’s back, determined to dig up any information on Cain that she did not know before. Bernie explains the source of Cain’s bitterness and explains that he is a really good fellow and just needs someone to care for him. Julia’s views on him begin to change and she doesn’t see him as the grouchy, Christmas-hating, grinch-man anymore.
Then, there’s Julia’s best friend, Cammie Nightingale. She is married and lives in Denver with a two-year-old and a newborn. Throughout the story, Cammie reassures Julia and encourages her to continue killing Cain with kindness even when things get a little rough and Julia is feeling discouraged. Originally, after hearing Julia’s complaints about Cain, Cammie was the one who brought forth the idea to kill Cain with kindness. Cammie also helps Julia in the process of realizing her feelings for Cain when she denies them and, just in general, she provides good advice to Julia during the complicated development of her and Cain’s relationship.
“If that’s the case, then I think you should kill him — kill him with kindness.” - Cammie Nightingale, Twelve Days of Christmas (Debbie Macomber)
One of the things that I admire most about this book is Julia’s persistence. No matter how many times Cain turned her down and brushed her off, she continued her kind gestures until she was satisfied with the results, even though there were times when she desperately wanted to back out due to Cain’s presumptuous behavior towards her. I feel that this connects to many relationships in real life as well because it teaches you to never give up and continue to show people who may really need it that you care about them through your kind gestures, for it can really change a person.
The romance and the relationship development between Julia and Cain was a very enjoyable read for me, as it would be for readers who enjoy romance novels. However, my biggest takeaway from this book was the fact that the impact of kindness can surprise you and it can truly change a person if you keep persisting and show them that you care.
“That woman who looks like she’s been sucking lemons half her life? The one who came to your front door just now?” - Bernie Maddox, Twelve Days of Christmas (Debbie Macomber)
“The very one. Seems to me she could use a little kindness. Why don’t we invite Mrs. Quincy over for Christmas dinner? That would be a good place to start, wouldn’t it?” - Julia Padden, Twelve Days of Christmas (Debbie Macomber)
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